Chyril Glenn, left, and Emily Banga, right, gave sumo wrestling a try at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden on Sunday.

Having fun and learning about Japanese culture were the goals of this week’s Sumo Sumo Sunday event.

Every week Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden gives guests a chance to put on a sumo suit and compete against a friend in the ring.

“Sumo Sumo Sunday is something that’s new to Nikka Yuko this year. It’s a really good opportunity to educate people on a sport that they probably don’t know a lot about,” said Melanie Berdusco, marketing and events manager for the garden.

A sumo match is won when an opponent is pushed out of the circle or when any part of their body, besides their foot, touches the ground.

Participants put on the suits, which are quite heavy and include gloves and head gear, before facing off in a ring laid out on the grass.

“If I grade it from zero to 10, I say it’s a 10. It seems it’s so hot, but this is my first experience and it’s so lovely,” said Chyril Glenn, who was visiting Nikka Yuko for the first time.

The activity is popular with both children and adults and is as competitive as the wrestlers want it to be.

Sumo Sumo Sundays debuted earlier this year, the idea came from board member Tad Mitsui, who is a fan of the sport.

Sumo is Japan’s national sport and has been part of their society for more than 2,000 years, according to Kids Web Japan. While Sumo Sumo Sundays is mainly for having fun, sumo wrestling is an ancient and important part of Japanese culture and history.

“The referee is actually a Shinto priest, so it has some background with the religion in Japan,” said Berdusco.

The garden also hosts evening events in May, July and September, which coincide with sumo tournaments in Japan. Activities on those nights consist of a presentation by Matsui and live streaming sumo wrestling.

“It’s more for adults. It’s kind of like going to watch UFC, for example, at a bar, where you come and we have Japanese beer,” said Berdusco.

Sumo Sumo Sundays runs every week from 1-4 p.m. and there is no extra cost.

Nikka Yuko was built in 1967 as part of Canada’s centennial celebrations, and to foster a relationship between the two countries after the Second World War.